Page 18 of Deacon

On top of that, Deacon either parked his bike beside her car in the driveway or on the street, it was in plain sight. It would be easy to tell when he was there, and easy to spot the routine they were quickly settling into. He mentally kicked himself over and over for not being more careful. He’d known about Randy. He should have been more watchful. More aware that the jerkoff could be an issue.

He pulled into the motel at the address Cowboy had given him and stared at the building. There were at least fifty rooms. How was he supposed to know which one the man was in? He didn’t even know Randy’s last name.

What Deacon really wanted to do was start kicking in doors until he found her, but that would only cause more trouble than it was worth. Instead, he headed for the office. Maybe he could get something out of the clerk while he waited for Cowboy to catch up.

Ten minutes later he stepped out of the office and looked around to find Cowboy had backed his bike in next to Deacon’s and was looking for him.

“How do we figure out where she is?” Cowboy asked as Deacon got close enough that he didn’t have to raise his voice. “My GPS got me the motel, but it’s not exact enough to give me the room.”

“I got it. I sweet talked the woman behind the counter, told her that I wanted to surprise my friend, but we’d only met online, and I didn’t have his last name. Luckly there’s only one Randall registered tonight.”

“She just gave you the room number?”

“I can be charming when I want to be.” He gave Cowboy a grin that he knew was more feral than friendly. “I thought we’d try to do this the easy way first and knock on the door. But I’ve been thinking about it on the drive. I think he’s been watching Lisa’s place. He’d recognize me, so you’ll have to knock. I’ll stand out of sight beside the door. When he opens the door, we rush him and push it open.”

“What if she’s not in there?”

“We know she’s here.” Deacon shot his best friend a dark look. “She is still in there, right?”

Cowboy pulled out his phone and did something on the screen. “It says she was still in there three minutes ago, or at least her phone was.”

“We’re not going to think like that. The phone’s there, she’s there.” What he didn’t say was that was how they would think until they knew otherwise. He had gotten Randy’s last name from the clerk. If they weren’t in the room, he would have somewhere to start looking for him.

“All right. You’re right. We act like she’s there until we know different. What room are they in?”

14

Lisa’s need to pee was overriding her desire to keep Randy from getting mad. She was working herself up to asking him again when a knock sounded on the door.

Randy glared over at her as if she’d caused it. As if that were somehow possible from where she still lay bound on the bed. He tossed a blanket over her body, so it looked like she was trying to nap.

“Say anything and I’ll make you regret it,” he whispered before moving to the door. “Who is it?”

“Management. We’ve had a problem with your payment, and I need to speak to you please.”

There was something familiar about that voice. Lisa would swear that was Cowboy. But how was that possible? It wasn’t. she must be imagining it.

“One moment.” Randy twisted around and gave her another warning glare before he took off the chain and opened the door a few inches, using his body to keep anyone from seeing inside. “Can I –”

His words were cut off as the door flew open. Lisa didn’t know what was going on, but knew this was her chance.

“HELP!” She thrashed, trying to get the blanket off her so whoever had just come in could see how she was bound. “Help me!”

“She’s here.”

Two big men burst into the room, one tackled Randy to the floor while the other came toward the bed. It took her a moment to realize the one coming her way was Deke.

Oh God. He’d found her.

For a moment it felt like her heart stopped beating. Her whole body flashed cold as relief went through her at being found.

“Are you okay?” He grabbed the blanket and whipped it off her and to the floor. “Son of a bitch.” He reached for something on his belt then the tape on her wrists and ankles seemed to fall away.

“My head hurts, but I think it’s okay.” Tears pooled in her eyes and all she wanted was to feel his arms around her.

“Let me see.” He ran his fingers gently over the back of her head until she winced, then he pulled her into his arms. “It’s a good size goose egg, but there doesn’t seem to be any bleeding. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I think so, but I need to pee. He hasn’t let me go since he took me.”

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